Orthopedic heel for shoes



Mafch 11, 1947-. Q A ROBERTS n 2,417,127`

ORTHOPEDIC HEEL FOR SHOES Filed Nov. 2O,` 1945 lve-72 /a 7- Patented Mar. 11, 1947 l UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE 2,417,127 ORTHOPEDIC HEEL FOR SHOES Charles A. Roberts, San Antonio, Tex. Application November-'20, 1945, Serial No. 629,787

6 Claims. 1

This invention, an orthopedic shoe heel, is adjustable to any desired plane relative to the normal, and is specically developed for the correction of postural imbalance, providing means for shifting the thrust of the body in correct proportions to the various areas of the foot, as also to correct for anatomical short leg, lateral deliection of the spine, and other causes oi imbalance.

As is well known, in the case of anatomical short leg alone, all that may be necessary is a difference in the height of the heel without any alteration of the base plane, while in other cases where short leg is accompanied by other struc' tural defects, in addition to the variation in the height of the heel, it may also be necessary to cant the heel to shift the weight of the body to its proper points in the foot, and to create postural balance between the two feet.

This adjustable heel is used in conformity with measurements derived from an orthopedic balance which provides individual weights or degree of body thrust on all portions of each foot as well as the proportions of the total thrust applied through the respective feet, thus establishing the cause and location of any structural defect, indicating any structural imbalance. If the total weight on one foot is greater than that on the other but the heel thrust is in balance, then it is merely necessary to provide a higher heel for the other foot, but if the thrust is unbalanced or not in proper proportion on the different areas, then angular adjustment is also necessary.

This invention provides a mechanical means for making any and every desirable correction of the heel, and to follow up such corrections as the case may warrant and as the structural imbalance or defects gradually become corrected. Thus it is possible to Weigh the thrusts on the different areas of the foot, then provide this orthopedic heel for each shoe, making adjustments in accordance with the indications of the balance, make a second weighing with the initially corrected heels, and continue such adjustments until the orthopedic balance shows true structural balance of the individual, with the weight applied equally between the two feet and properly proportioned between the different weight supporting areas of each foot. Furthermore, all adjustments can be made While the heel is attached to the shoe.

This heel, irrespective of any adjustment as to height or angularity, has the appearance of a conventional heel and is fully protected from dirt or moisture, so that the adjusting means cannot become fouled or corroded. It is stabilized against lateral movement and yet is fully as resilient as the conventional rubber heel, and the top lift is easily replaceable without disturbing the adjustment of the heel or its connection to the shoe. This is particularly desirable since a worn top lift would cause reversion to some degree of structural imbalance.

The objects and advantages oi the invention are as follows:

First, to provide mechanical means Vfor altering the base plane oi the heel for correction of structural imbalance.

Second, to provide a heel which is adjustable both, as to height and angularity for altering the base plane or point of thrust of the anatomical heel.

Third, to provide a structure as outlined which can be adjusted at will while attached to a shoe.

Fourth, to provide a structure as outlined which is completely sealed against ingress of dust or moisture.

Fifth, to provide a heel as outlined which retains the normal appearance of a conventional heel irrespective of angular or planar adjustments, with unbroken or otherwise unmarred encompassing walls.

Sixth, to provide a heel as outlined in which the encompassing walls of the heel function as a part of the adjusting means.

Seventh, to provide a heel as outlined with an encompassing wall of waterproof elastic material which will stretch or retract in conformity with the mechanical adjustment of the heel.

In describing the invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a top plan View of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of Fig.

The invention consists of a heel which .is attachable to a shoe and which may be adjusted either or both, as to height or angularity, and as illustrated consists of a plate l0 which is permanently secured to the heel portion of the shoe backstay I I and the heel proper which is attachable to the plate as by screws I2.

The heel proper consists of a cupped member I3 formed of rigid material and having tapped passages I4 for the screws i2 and an encompassing form-maintaining wall I5 which also functions as a stabilizing means. Also formed in this member is a plurality of screwhead receiving sockets i6 for the adjusting screws Il, a passage I8 being formed through the plate i in axial alignment with each adjusting. screw socket, but

smaller in diameter than the head of the screw to retain the screw head in its socket, the socket having a passage for the screw body, so that when the heel is attached to the plate I0, the head is locked against axial movement but free for rotary adjustment. A base plate I9 has bosses 2 provided with threaded passages for the screws 2l and has suitably secured to its upper surface a cushion 22, such as live rubber secured by cementing or vulcanizing, and this cushion is substantially coextensive with the inside of the depending wall I5, with just sufficient clearance 23 to allow for unrestricted movement of the wall.

-Suitably secured to the upper surface of the cushion is a resilient nut locking member 24 which has passages 25 to receive the nuts 26 of the adjusting screws il, the metal being formed up as indicated at 2l to maintain the nut against rotation when the screw H is adjusted.

stabilizing plungers 'ZB are slidable in bores 29 formed in the bosses 30 which are formed integral with the top plate i3, and each has a head 3i for retention in a socket 32 formed in the cushion, or they may be molded in position in the cushion, their function being to resiliently restrain the heel against lateral sway.

A replaceable top lift 33 has metal or other suitable reinforcements 34 molded or otherwise suitably secured in position to function as reinforcements for the area of attachment and as seats for the screws 2l.

In assembling the device, the bottom plate I9 with its cushion 22 and nutlock member 24 is assembled with the top plate with the plungers 28 riding in the passages 29. lScrews I'l are then threaded into the nuts 26 and the assembled unit is held with the bottom edge 35 of the encompassing depending wall l of the top plate in contact with the top surface of the bottom plate I9. A band 36 of 'elastic material such as live rubber and having a circular length about one-half inch less than the circumambient length of the wall i5 is stretched over the unit and centered so that the edges will extend equally about the top and bottom edges and fold against the recessed edges 3l' of the top and bottom plates, following which these edges are either cemented or vulcanized to the recessed edges, thus completely and effectively sealing the inside of the structure other than the screw passages. The plate l0 is secured to the bottom of the heel portion of the shoe and has only the passages for the screws l2 and the holes for adjusting the screws l'l.

With the heel attached to the shoe by the f screws i2, and the top lift attached to the bottom plate by the screws Z'i, the heel is completely sealed with the exception of the holes l, and since the heads of the screws l'l have close ts in the bores l, the sealing is complete so that neither dust, -dirt or moisture can enter the structure.

The resilient plate 24 While functioning as means for retaining the nuts against rotation, does not interfere with the distortion of the cushion brought about when the heel is angularly adjusted, while the cushion compensates for the parallel nuts when the bottom of the heel is canted through adjustment of the screws ll, and the heel side wall compensates for any adjustment of the heel, either or both, as to height or angularity, and is constantly under tension with any adjustment, and therefore reacts against the nuts 26, so that when adjustment of the screws is retractive, the Wall 3B Simultaneously retracts the lower portion of the heel. Simultaneously this wall always presents the appearance of the outside surface of a conventional shoe heel, being supported throughout its height by the rigid Wall l5 when the adjustment is closed, and throughout the major portion of its height with maximum adjustment, and being stretched with any adjustment so that the space intervening between the lower edge 35 of the rigid wall and the bottom plate I9 does not permit retraction of the wall to any noticeable extent. When the heel is adjusted, one of the screws 2| can be removed to break the Vacuum to prevent drawing the wall inward between the edge 35 and the bottom plate, and following adjustment, the screw 2l is replaced, again effectively sealing the structure.

If the top lift wears suiciently to alter structural balance, the heel can be readjusted or a new top lift can be substituted. The top lift can be cemented around the edges if desired to provide a close and unbroken joint with the peripheral wall 36 and prevent ingress of dirt and moisture between the top lift and the bottom plate.

I claim:

1. An orthopedic heel comprising a top plate attachable to the heel portion of a shoe, a member attachable to the said top plate and a top lift and supporting means therefor and adjusting means cooperative between said member and said supporting means for adjusting the top lift relative to the member either as to height or angularity; an encompassing wall of elastic material for said heel and stretchable to conform with the height of the heel at all points and maintain the outward appearance of a conventional heel irrespective of planar or angular adjustment.

2. An orthopedic heel comprising a top plate attachable to the heel portion of a shoe, a member attachable to the said top plate and a top lift and supporting means therefor and adjusting means cooperative between said member and said supporting means for adjusting the top lift relative to the member either as to height or angularity; an encompassing wall of elastic material for said heel and stretchable to conform with the height of the heel at all points and maintain the outward appearance of a conventional heel irrespective of planar or angular adjustment, and being sealed to the peripheral portions of said member and said supporting means to eifectively seal said heel against ingress of dust or moisture.

3. An orthopedic heel comprising a top plate attachable to the heel portion of a shoe, a member attachable to the said top plate and a top lift and supporting means therefor and adjusting means cooperative between said member and said supporting means for adjusting the top lift relative to the member either as to height or angularity; said adjusting means comprising an elastic cushion mounted on said supporting means, a plurality of spaced nuts seated on said elasticfcushion and means associated with said cushion for retaining said nuts against rotation, and screws rotatable in sockets formed in said member and cooperating with said nut-s, and with the heads of said screws retained against axial movement by said top plate, said cushion lcompensating for maintenance of parallelism beattachable to the heel portion of a shoe, a member attachable to the said top plate and a top lift and supporting means therefor and adjusting means cooperative between said member and said supporting means for adjusting the top lift relative to the member either as to height or angularity; an encompassing wall of elastic material for said heel and stretchable to conform with the height of the heel at all points and maintain the outward appearance of a conventional heel irrespective of planar or angular adjustment, and being sealed to the peripheral portions of said member and said supporting means to eiectively seal said heel against ingress of dust or moisture; said adjusting means comprising an elastic cushion mounted on said supporting means, a plurality of spaced nuts seated on said elastic cushion and means associated with said cushion for retaining said nuts against rotation,

and screws rotatable in sockets formed in said.

member and cooperating with said nuts, and with the heads ofsaid screws retained against axial movement by said top plate, said cushion compensating for maintenance of parallelism between said nuts and said member when said supporting means is angularly adjusted relative thereto.

5. A shoe heel for correcting structural imbalance, in combination; a member attachable to the heel portion of a shoe and a support member for a top lift; cushioning means on said support member; guiding means cooperating between said cushioning means and said member for resiliently maintaining said support member against side sway, and a, plurality of spaced adjusting means cooperating between said member and said cushioning means for relatively spacedly or angularly adjusting said support member with said cushioning means compensating for angular adjustments and cushioning the transfer of weight to the heel.

6. A structure as defined in claim 5; an encompassing shield of elastic material forming a stretchable outside wall for said heel to compensate for adjustments of said member relative to said support member.

CHARLES A. ROBERTS.

REFERENCES CITED FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date French Feb. 2, 1914 Number 

